Judy McMullen retires from Pioneer athletics

Lewis & Clark College Dean of Students, Anna Gonzalez, announced today the retirement of Senior Associate Director of Physical Education and Athletics Judy McMullen, who for nearly 20 years has been an integral part of Pioneer athletics.

“Judy’s commitment to Pioneer athletics is reflected in the success of our student athletes on the field and in the classroom,” Dean Gonzalez said. “Her sense of humor, strategic thinking, and student centered approach to higher education will be missed by me and the rest of Student Life.”

McMullen held the position of associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator at the College for 13 years before retiring from athletic administration in July 2007. She also served as interim director of physical education and athletics for much of the 2005-06 academic year.

McMullen could not stay away from the Pioneer Athletics, returning to Palatine Hill in July 2008 in an interim role assisting the department during a transitional period. McMullen rejoined the staff full-time in March 2009 as senior associate director of physical education and athletics – academic support.

During her time back on Palatine Hill, McMullen has served as the academic liaison and facilitator for Pioneer student-athletes to the broader campus community. She is responsible for determining and maintaining NCAA and Northwest Conference eligibility for all incoming and continuing student-athletes. McMullen has also served on numerous campus-wide committees over the years including most recently the CAS Strategic Planning Group, the Student Affairs Structural Assessment Committee, and the Committee on New Student Orientation, Registration, and Advising.

McMullen’s ties to athletics run deep as she is a past presenter at NCAA Title IX/Gender Equity Seminars and chaired the Lewis & Clark Title IX/Gender Equity Task Force. She is a former member of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Rules Committee, having also served as the Pioneers head basketball coach early in her career.

Currently, McMullen is a member of the Division III Women’s Rowing Committee, the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics, National Association of Division III Administrators, American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Coalition, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. She is also a graduate of the NACWAA/HERS Institute for Administrative Advancement.

A former student-athlete herself, McMullen played volleyball and basketball at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. McMullen has devoted her career to the promotion of college athletics in a safe and nurturing environment. McMullen has stayed true to the NCAA Division III philosophy, which is about balancing the academic and athletic experience, fostering equity among all athletic teams, and enhancing the student-athlete experience. This ethos has been a driving force throughout McMullen’s professional career.

A party will be held for Judy on Thursday, June 27, at 2pm on the Manor House Patio.